CHISELED (A BAD BOY ROMANCE)(19)

By: Alexa Rynn

Someone cleared their throat behind me.

I spun around and came face to face with Braden.

Unbelievable, he was making me lose my composure even when I didn’t know he was present. I held my hand out to him. “Braden… er, Mr. Nash.” He just glanced down at my hand and after a minute I pulled it back to my sides.

It’s just as well… I might have fainted if he touched me.

“You’re late,” he told me. “Not very professional.”

I glanced at the clock on the other side of the wall. “It’s 7:02.”

He huffed and turned around, already walking away from me. “Exactly.”

I ran after him, struggling to keep up in my new heels. “I’m sorry, I had trouble getting a cab and then there was traffic on the interstate and…” I lost my balance again and started to fall forward.

Braden swung around before I had a chance to go far. His reflex was instant, almost like he could sense I was going to fall before my feet even left the ground. His hands were under my arms in a second, stopping me from going anywhere. My head got mushed into his chest and it wasn’t until it was too late that I realized I inhaled his scent.

I glanced up at him, hoping that he hadn’t noticed. His eyes looked down at me, curious and dark, and I felt like my entire body was on fire, burning so high into flames that it might explode.

After a few seconds he pushed me back up to me feet, untangling me from him. “New shoes?” He shot his eyes down my body slowly and finally landed on my shoes.

I flinched. It was like he liked making me squirm.

“No.” I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction.

He smirked and started walking just as fast as before. I chased him for what felt like ten miles and finally caught my breath when we reached the other side of the building. Ugh, why hadn’t he had me meet him at one of the side doors? Like I wanted to run a marathon first thing in the morning.

“This is your desk,” he announced like I should be impressed.

I glanced at it. Small and black, almost completely empty besides a few basic office tools: calendar, stapler, pencils, and pens. A small computer sat on the right hand side along with a complicated looking phone.

Clearly, I was a secretary.

This wasn’t exactly the best news since I may have exaggerated my office skills a little bit on my applications. I’m sure it would be fine, though. How hard could it be to answer a few calls and get some coffee?

I set my purse down on top of the smooth surface. “Thank you,” I told him. “Well, I guess I’ll just get to work then.” I pulled out the desk chair and plopped down in it, leaning back like I was completely comfortable in this atmosphere. The chair proceeded to snap backward and almost knock me completely on my ass.

I was saved from the humiliation of trying to form words by Troy, who came bursting through the glass doors on the other side of the lobby like a man with a mission. “Braden!” He sounded panicked. “Braden! We have a huge problem! It’s an absolute disaster! That guy who got…” He trailed off then he saw me.

Braden shot him a look. “Trent, allow me to introduce you to my new secretary, Addison Cooper. Addison, this is Trent. He’s our executive developer here at Ford Enterprise.”

I stood up on shaky legs. “Hello.”

“Ah.” Trent nodded and reached out to take my hand. “Addison.”

I took Trent’s hand and shook it, shooting Braden a look in the process that said ‘see, I’m not crazy this is how normal people greet each other.’ But Braden just shrugged and looked unimpressed.

“Addison Young is it?” He raised his eyebrows at me and I blushed. “Quite the impersonator there.” He dropped my hand and I was relieved to find that I still had feeling in my fingers after my physical contact with Braden.

So humiliating.

“Yeah, about that, I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to get you into trouble. I just…” I gulped. “I thought you guys took something of mine.” I tried to keep the emotion out of my voice at the reminder that I still hadn’t found my mystery man’s glove.

“No problem, the whole thing was kind of amusing to be honest.”

Braden puffed out his chest. “Ruining one of the most important meetings of the month at a multi million dollar business is hardly something I would call amusing.”

Of course he wouldn’t.

Braden’s voice reminded Trent how bad he needed to talk to him. “Braden, I really need to talk to you.” He glanced at me. “Alone.”

Braden glanced at his wrist, revealing an expensive looking watch. “Now isn’t a good time. I have a conference call with Channel 9 in twenty minutes and I have to…” He lowered his voice. “I have to make sure Addison is comfortable.”